Gallery: Jackie Robinson, onscreen and off

Chadwick Boseman portrays Jackie Robinson in the biopic 42, the story of the baseball pioneer's life. The film open in theatres April 12, 2013.

D. Stevens
/ Warner Bros.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, GA, died October 24, 1972, Stamford, CT, age 53. Major League Baseball’s official site lists Jackie Robinson this way: “2B, bats right, throws right, height 5’11, weight 204 lbs.”
/ From Gazette files

In 1941, as a student and noted athlete at UCLA, Jackie Robinson (here in an undated photo) was the first athlete to letter in four sports: baseball, football, basketball and track. Cash-strapped, he had to leave and spent two years in the U.S. army. About two years later, he received an honorable discharge after being courtmartialed for his objections to incidents of racial discrimination.AP Photo
/ AP Photo

In 1945, having spent one year in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs, Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodger's leading farm team, the Montreal Royals of the International League.
/ From Gazette files

Jackie Robinson arrived in Florida for spring training for the Montreal Royals in the spring of 1946. He was not allowed to stay in the team hotel and so bunked with a local black politician.
/ From Gazette files

DeLorimier stadium - seen here at night, August 26, 1950 - was where Jackie Robinson played with the Montreal Royals.
/ From Gazette files

At age 28, Jackie Robinson broke the colour barrier in his Major League Baseball debut - April 15, 1947 – when the Brooklyn Dodgers started him on first base at Ebbet’s Field, in front of a crowd estimated at 26,623. (They won.)W.C. Greene
/ AFP / Getty Images

In this April 15, 1947 file photo, from left, Brooklyn Dodgers baseball players John Jorgensen, Pee Wee Reese, Ed Stanky and Jackie Robinson pose at Ebbets Field in New York. In 1947, Jackie Robinson was named the rookie of the year in the National League of Major League Baseball (2 homers, 29 steals, .297 average). By ’49, he was named NL most valuable player (.342 average, 37 steals).AP
/ Canada.com

Chad Boseman as Jackie Robinson in the movie 42. When internal racial tension manifested after Jackie Robinson’s arrival on the Brooklyn Dodgers team, manager Leo Durocher declared, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded."

Lucas Black as Pee Wee Reese and Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in 42. Jackie Robinson was with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955 when they won the world series. In all, he played in six World Series.Warner Bros
/ Warner Bros

Jackie Robinson, left, with his son, Jackie Jr., and his wife, Rachel, in June 1957 after he announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. His last game had been played Sept. 30, 1956. According to the site baseball-reference.com, his salary began at $5,000 in 1947, peaked at $39,750 in 1952 and ended at $31,500 in 1956.
/ From Gazette files

In 42, Harrison Ford (left) plays Brooklyn Dodgers GM Branch Rickey to Chadwick Boseman's Jackie Robinson. In 1962, Robinson was named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his speech in Cooperstown on July 23, he thanked “a man who I consider a father, Mr. Branch Rickey.”
/ Warner Brothers

Seen in this June 30, 1971 file photo, Jackie Robinson died Oct. 24, 1972 in Stamford CT, age 53. He is buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY.
/ AP Photo / file

Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 16, 2010 in Los Angeles, wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Starting in 2004, every April 15 is now Jackie Robinson Day and all players in Major League Baseball games that day wear the number 42 in his honour.Harry How
/ Getty Images

On February 28, 2011, Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon listens to United States Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson prior to a plaque being unveiled on the duplex at 8232 de Gaspe St. in Montreal where Jackie Robinson lived with his wife, Rachel, while playing minor league baseball for the Montreal Royals. Eric Boudreault, the building's owner is at right. The event, sponsored by the U.S. consulate in Montreal, was held in conjunction with Black History Month.John Mahoney
/ Gazette file photo

Jackie Robinson's daughter Sharon walks in front of the duplex at 8232 de Gaspe St. in Montreal where a plaque was unvieled (visible under the mailbox next to the door) marking where Jackie Robinson lived with his wife, Rachel, while playing minor league baseball for the Montreal Royals, February 28, 2011.John Mahoney
/ Gazette file photo

Fans enter the Jackie Robinson rotunda prior to the opening day game between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on April 1, 2013 in New York City.Mike Stobe
/ Getty Images

Fans enter the Jackie Robinson rotunda prior to the opening day game between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on April 1, 2013 in New York City.Mike Stobe
/ Getty Images

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks at the start of a student workshop with the cast and crew of the upcoming Jackie Robinson biopic 42 on April 2, 2013 in the White House in Washington, DC. From left: actor Harrison Ford, who plays Major League Baseball executive Branch Rickey and Rachel Robinson, widow of Jackie Robinson.Mandel Ngan
/ AFP / Getty Images

Chadwick Boseman portraying Jackie Robinson in a scene from 42. Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum hosted an advance screening of the upcoming movie about Robinson, 42, which opens in theatres April 12. It chornicles his rise from the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs in 1945 to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.Submitted photo
/ Warner Bros.

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